Easton Public Market seeks state grant

January 07, 2014|By JD Malone, Of The Morning Call

Easton Public Market might get a little more public money.

The market's parent organization, the Greater Easton Development Partnership, is applying for $300,000 in state grants to help fund anchor vendors at the proposed Public Market. Gretchen Longenbach, director of community and economic development, said the money would aid three vendors in buying equipment and configuring floor space.

"If we can help the process, then it is easier and friendlier for vendors to grow," Longenbach said. "We look at (the Public Market) as an incubator space."

The Public Market is slated to occupy the first floor of 325 Northampton St., the former Weller Health Education Center. The GEDP agreed last year to buy the vacant building for $900,000 and invest another several hundred thousand dollars into renovations to transform the first floor into market and office space.

The grant application will be made official at Wednesday's City Council meeting.

The Public Market would be open year-round and offer fresh food and other goods from about 30 vendors. The market would be similar, but on a much smaller scale, to places like the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia. Officials hope to secure several anchor tenants, such as a butcher, a seafood vendor and possibly a cafe. Project manager Jared Mast said no deals have been signed yet, but there have been a lot of discussions with interested parties.

Nate Thomas, who runs Breakaway Farms, a popular vendor at the Easton Farmers Market, told City Council last year that he wanted to open an old-fashioned butcher shop in the Public Market. Mike Pichetto, who just opened the 3rd and Ferry Fish Market in the downtown, wants to expand with a fresh seafood stand in the Public Market.

The year-round indoor market expands upon the success the city has seen with its outdoor farmers market — the oldest continuously operated outdoor market in the country — which has grown with Wednesday and winter markets. The current winter market is housed in the Weller Center building.

Longenbach said winning the grant money is no sure bet, but Easton has had success in the past. In the past four years money has flowed to Two Rivers Brewing, the A&D Tile building, Pichetto's renovations of the former Lipkin's building at Third and Ferry streets, and to the second phase of the Pomeroy's restoration. She added that the state could award an amount less than $300,000.

"Even if we only get a portion," Longenbach said, "that would be great."

The grant money would go to vendors as a grant to loan, which would be paid back to GEDP. The repaid money is then available for further investments or put toward making programs like the Ambassadors, the farmers market and the Main Street Initiative self-sustaining.

City Council agreed last year to give $1 million toward the Public Market project, money that should be repaid if the market is successful.